Homeless family: ‘Where are the supports for mothers and children?’

Louise, a 31-year-old Dublin mother, had to split her three children up this week after losing her private rented accommodation. She was unable to access emergency accommodation.

On Tuesday night she kept her youngest (2) with her, staying with a friend, while her six-year-old stayed with their father and her 10-year-old stayed with a friend.

On Monday they all stayed in a hotel, which cost her €40, having been told by her local authority there was no emergency accommodation left for families.

The woman, who does want her surname used, was given notice in November to quit her private rented home in Clondalkin on January 16th. The landlord was selling the house.

Overstayed tenancy

Unable to find alternative accommodation where rent allowance was accept

ed or available within the rent-allowance cap, she overstayed the tenancy until Monday, January 25th.

She had approached South Dublin County Council, assuming they could help with emergency accommodation, but was told there were 40 families ahead of her waiting for emergency accommodation.

She does not want her parents to know about her situation, saying they have serious health issues. The children’s father has space for only one child. She receives lone-parent allowance of €290 a week.

Last night, the family was reunited, staying in a hotel paid for by Focus Ireland. A spokesman for the charity said the booking was "for a few nights to give us space to advocate for her".

Though relieved to have her children back, she was “all over the place” about the immediate future, she said.

“I’ve told the kids the heating is broken in the house and we’ll move back in soon. I’m trying to protect them, but normality is gone for them. They can’t do their after-school activities or go on play dates. My youngest is stuck in the buggy all day being dragged around.”

She said she had been to the council’s homeless unit every day, as well as to local councillors, TDs and her parish priest.

“They all wrote letters for me, but it makes no difference. I think unless you are alcoholic or a drug addict you get no services if you’re homeless. Where are the supports for mothers and children?”

Thin and pale

Looking

thin and pale, she said she had hardly eaten in more than a week. Asked how she was, she replied: “I don’t think about that. If I think about that I might start crying and if I do I’ll never pick myself back up.”

Looking towards her youngest child, who was asleep in a buggy, she added: “If I roll over, no one else is going to fight for them.

“All I want is for us to be valued like human beings, not being pushed around like pieces of dirt. At this stage I’m not even asking for a home, just a roof over our heads.”

A spokesman for South Dublin County Council would not comment on an individual case.